In two years, Lawnwood trauma center has helped more than 2,000 patients

photos by DEBORAH SILVER/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS
Rainer Jenkins (left) sings a duet with his father, Matt, during a worship service at Westside Baptist Church in Fort Pierce on Sunday. As the two sang, photos from Rainer's time in the hospital were displayed on a giant screen for members of the congregation to see. Rainer, 25, suffered a traumatic brain injury after a four-wheeler accident last year. He was admitted into Lawnwood Regional Medical Center &amp; Heart Institute's trauma unit, was in an induced coma for eight days with a trach tube and remained in the hospital for five weeks. Doctors had warned his parents that Rainer may never walk, speak or feed himself again.
Rainer Jenkins CQ
Matt Jenkins CQ
PHOTO TAKEN: SUNDAY 5/22/2011

TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

Rainer Jenkins (right) gives Keli Stutzman a hug as her husband, Jim, watches on before the worship service at Westside Baptist Church in Fort Pierce on Sunday. "He's a miracle," said Larry Pelton, a friend of the family. "People who didn't even know Rainer came together to rally for him."
Rainer Jenkins CQ
Keli Stutzman CQ
Jim Stutzman CQ
Larry Pelton CQ
PHOTO TAKEN: SUNDAY 5/22/2011

TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

FORT PIERCE — Often the difference between life and death is decided within an hour. Doctors call it the golden hour, a critical window of time in which to treat a trauma patient.

Two years ago this month, Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute opened the first trauma center on the Treasure Coast, giving the more than 2,000 patients they've treated a critical advantage in terms of timely treatment.

Since its opening, the trauma center has seen a 54 percent increase in trauma patients with positive patient outcomes at 95 percent.

"There was a need for a trauma center here," said Thomas Ellison, vice president of trauma services at Lawnwood. "Travel to other trauma centers could take up to two hours or longer. Now patients are at the hospital within 20 minutes and very often are in the emergency room having lifesaving surgery within a few minutes of coming in."

According to a 2009 National Vital Statistics Report, trauma caused by accidents or unintentional injury is the fifth leading cause of death after heart disease, cancer, lung disease and stroke.

Ellison said, nationally, most trauma patients are between the ages of one and 44. He added that for every one person who is killed as a result of trauma, there are another three people who will be permanently disabled.

Fort Pierce resident Rainer Jenkins, 25, who suffered a traumatic brain injury after rolling over on his four-wheeler last year, was one of the lucky ones.

A trauma alert was called into Lawnwood and the hospital dispatched a helicopter to pick up Jenkins. It is unknown how much time passed between the accident and when Jenkins arrived at the hospital.

"The (emergency medical technicians) didn't have much hope he was going to make it," said Connie Jenkins, Rainer's mother. "He survived and recovered thanks to the first responders and surgeons."

Before the trauma center opened, the nearest units were located at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach and at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne. Lawnwood is located in the middle of the 120-mile stretch separating both hospitals.

Many of Lawnwood's trauma patients have sustained gunshot, stab wounds or were involved in severe accidents on Florida's Turnpike or Interstate 95. The trauma unit also serves patients in rural Okeechobee County who have been involved in farm injuries with machinery or livestock.

The trauma unit has six trauma surgeons. But, Ellison said the team consists of the whole hospital, which includes specialty doctors, nurses, paramedics and radiology and laboratory technicians all of which greet trauma patients once they arrive at the hospital.

"In a trauma center, you're really looking after the sickest patient and those that need a whole team effort," Ellison said. "We actually look after our trauma patients from the accident all the way to rehabilitation, which is a big difference to the rest of the hospital."

Lawnwood officials say part of the trauma center's success has been credited to the 27 top physicians the hospital has recruited. These specialty physicians are not only available to trauma patients, but also to non-trauma patients. That, hospital officials said, brings the level of care in the area up a notch.

Dr. Victor DaSilva, chief of neurosurgery at Lawnwood, was part of the group of new physicians and the primary doctor on the Jenkins' case.

DaSilva inserted a metal rod called a bolt into Jenkins' brain to monitor brain pressure and to drain any excess blood. The procedure and the immediate surgery were key to Jenkins' full recovery.

Jenkins was in an induced coma for eight days, was kept for three weeks in the intensive care unit and spent a total of five weeks at Lawnwood before being released for physical therapy in Vero Beach.

"I'm a miracle," Jenkins said. "Doctors said if I survived, I'd have to learn how to eat, walk and talk again. I feel normal. My memory isn't good, but my body is doing what it's supposed to."